Illuminated backsplasher for electric ranges



P 1952 R. c. SANDIN ETAL ILLUMINATED BACKSPLASHER FOR ELECTRIC RANGESFiled July 2'7, 1949 JNVENTOR. Ray C. Sandin Thomas M. SfeinbuchPatented Sept. 2, 1952 I LLUMINATED BACKSPLASHER FOR ELECTRIC RANGES RayC. Sandin, Oak Park, and Thomas M. Steinbach, Chicago, Ill., assignorsto Hotpoint Inc., a corporation of New York Application July 27, 1949,Serial No. 107,064

2 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to electric ranges, and more particularlyto illuminated backsplashers carried by the cooking tops of suchelectric ranges.

In U. S. Patent No. 2,431,904, granted on December 2, 1947, to John L.Andrews, there is disclosed an electric rangeprovided with a cooking topcarrying a hollow backsplasher adjacent to the rear thereof. In thisrange the cooking top supports a number of surface heating units; andthe backsplasher supports a corresponding number of control switches forthe individual surface heating units. Each of these control switches isof the pushbutton type including an off pushbutton' and five individualcontrol pushbuttons corresponding to the respective five heating ratesof, the associated surface heating unit. The off pushbutton and the fivecontrol pushbuttons in each of the control switches are selectivelyoperative correspondingly to actuate the control switch to govern thecorresponding heating connections between the associated surface heatingunit and a common source of current supply. Also, each control switch isprovided with an individual illuminating arrangement, including a hoodand an associated lamp,,for the purpose of selectively'illuminating anoperated one of the five control pushbuttons to serve'as a signalindicating the operated position there of, each of' the pushbutto'nsbeing formed of a transparent plastic material accommodating thetransmission of light therethrough from the lamp mentioned.

v In U. S. Patent No. 2,437,555, granted on March 9,1948, to Gregory L.Rees, there is disclosed a modified form of the Andrews pushbuttonswitch incorporating a color card in the illuminating arrangementthereof. Specifically, the color card comprises blue, green, purple,yellow and red panes respectively associated with the five controlpushbuttons, the colors noted sequentially indicating increasing heatingrates of the associated surface heating unit'resulting from .operationof the corresponding control pushbuttons. In this arrangement thedifferent colors'serve as a key to the corresponding heating rates ofthe associated surface heating unit resulting from operation of thecorresponding control pushbuttons, and, as noted, the red and bluecolors respectively indicate the highest and the lowest heating rates,and the othercolors respectively indicate the various intermediate andgraduated heating rates.

While an electric range of the construction noted incorporating the Beespushbutton switches constitutes a refined and efficient appliance, it ismore expensive to manufacture than is desirable preventing readyincorporation of this color cooking control arrangement in the moremoderately priced electric ranges.

Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to providean electric range including a backsplasher carried by the cooking topthereof, that incorporates a simple and economical illuminatingarrangement that correlates the control of pushbutton switches mountedon the backsplasher and the heating rates of surface heating unitsmounted on the cooking top.

Another object of the invention is to provide in an electric range ofthe construction noted, an improved trim plate carried by the front wallof the backsplasher that supports and trims the control elements notedand also effects the distribution of illumination upon the cooking topso that a single lamp may be employed both for the purpose ofestablishing the color cooking control noted and for the purpose ofilluminating the trim plate and the cooking top of the electric range. 1Further features of the invention pertain to the particular arrangementof the elements of the electric range, whereby the above-outlined andadditional operating features thereof are attained.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation,together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best beunderstood by reference to'the following specification taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is afragmentary front perspective view of the upper portion of an electricrange, illustrating th backsplasher carried by the cooking top adjacentto the rear thereof, and embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 is anenlarged vertical sectional view of the backsplasher, taken in thedirection of the arrows along the line 2-2 in Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is agreatly'enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the backsplasher, takenfrom the intermediate portion of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawing, the electric range In there illustrated,and embodying the features of the'present invention, comprises anupstanding frame or body II provided with a substantially horizontallydisposed cooking top 12 terminating adjacent to the rear thereof in anupwardly directed pedestal 13 carrying an upwardly extending hollowbacksplasher M. The body II comprises an oven, not shown, disposed inthe right-hand upper portion thereof below the cooking top l2, and astorage space, not shown, disposed in the left-hand upper portionthereof below the cooking top 12. Also, the cooking top l2 has aplurality of openings formed in the left-hand surface thereof in whichcorresponding surface heating units are removably secured in place.Specifically, the left-hand surface of the cooking top I2 has fouropenings formed therein arranged both front and rear and left and right,and removably carrying COI'Ifif sponding surface heating units. Forconvenience the four surface heating units will be referred tohereinafter as the left front, the right front, the left rear and theright rear surface heating units. In passing it is noted that the leftrear surface heating unit may also be lowered below the cooking top I2in order to provide a deep-well cooking unit. In the drawing, theremovable left front and left rear surface heating units arerespectively indicated at and I6, and the removable right rear and rightfront surface heating units are respectively indicated at H and I8.Also, the oven, not shown, comprises the usual bake and broil heatingelements, not shown.

The backsplasher It is of hollow construction as previously notedincluding a front wall 19 that projectsiirst upwardly and then upwardlyand rearwardly, as well as upwardly extending side walls 29 and 2|, anda connecting substantially horizontally disposed top wall 22. splashr ismay be of one-piece pressed steel construction and constitutes aninstrument and heating control equipment panel, as well as anillumination support, as described more fully hereinafter. enlargedlaterally extending, opening 23 is formed in the upper right-handportion of; the front wall I 9, Which opening 23 is covered by a trimplate 24 suitably removably secured to the front surface of the frontwall [9. The opening 23 may constitutea continuous cutout from side toside with respect to the trim plate 24 or it may comprise a plurality oflaterally spaced-apart sections provided with intervening connectingwebs. Also, a laterally extending Window 25 is formed in the right-handupper portion of the front wall l9 above the opening 23 and somewhatbelow the top Wall 22, the window 25 being covered by a hood 26,, formedintegral with and adjacent to the top of the trim plate. 24. The hood 26projects forwardly and downwardly from the top, of the front wall 19 andthen projects rearwardly and downwardly joining the principal body ofthe trim plate 24. A laterally extending window, 21 i siformedin thelower porticnof the hood 26 so that. light from the interior of thebacksplasher may be projected through the aligned windows 25 and 21 ontothe cooking toplZ: as explained more fullyhereinafter. Further, atransparent pane 28.f ormed of glass, or the like, is secured tothe rearsurface of the, front wall 19 within the hollow backsplasher H incovering relation with respect to the window 25 in order to prevent, theentrance of dust, or the like, from the exterior into the, hollowbacksplasher M.

A clock-controlled timing mechanism 29 is supportedby the upper centralportion of the trim plate "24- and is arranged to control the openingandthe closing of the electric circuits of v the heating elements oftheoven in accordance with predetermined settabletimes; and an ovencontrol switch 30 of the pushbutton type-is supported bythe lower,central portion of the trim plate 24 below the timing mechanism 29 andis arranged manually to control the electric circuits to the The backaheating elements of the oven. Preferably the pushbutton switch 30 is ofthe illuminated type disclosed in the Rees patent mentioned andcomprises an oil pushbutton indicated by the letter 0-, an adjacent bakepushbutton indicated by the first letter B, an adjacent timed bakepushbuttonindicated by the letter T and an adjacent broil pushbuttoindicated by the second letter B; these pushbuttons being arranged fromthe right toward the left in the order named. In the operation of thepushbutton switch 30- the off pushbutton is operative to disconnect theheating elements of the oven, not shown, from an associated source ofcurrent supply, not shown; while the bake, timed bake and broilpushbuttons are selectively operative to effect corresponding heatingconnections between the heating elements of the oven and the source ofcurrent supply mentioned. In passing it is noted that when the bakepushbutton is operated the associated lamp illuminates it with a greencolor; when the timed bake pushbutton is operated the associated lampilluminates it with a yellow. color; and when the broil pushbutton isoperated the associated lamp illuminates it with a red color. The lamp,not shown, associated with the pushbuttons in the oven control switch370 is automatically lighted in response to operation of the bake pushbutton, the timed bake pushbutton or the broil pushbutton, and isautomatically extinguished in response to the operation of the offpushbutton; the color cooking control and circuit control operationsbeing incorporated in the pushbutto switch 38. of the Rees type.

Depressions 3i and 32 are respectively formed in the upper left-handside and in the upper right-hand side of the trim plate 24 insubstantial horizontal alignment with the timing mechanism 29 so thatthe hood 26 is positioned above the timing mechanism 29 and thedepressions 3| and 32 Two laterally spaced-apart vertical tiers of guideslots are respectively formed adjacent to the left-hand side andadjacent to the righthand side of the depression 3| and respectivelyreceive and guide the individual pushbuttons of two correspondingpushbutton switches mounted within the hollow backsplasher M, theindividual pushbuttons of one of these switches being indicated at Aland the individual pushbuttons of the other of these. switches beingindicated at 5i. The, left-hand switch, the. pushbuttons of which areindicated at 4|, controls the electric circuits for the left frontsurface heating unit l5; while theright-hand switch, the pushbuttons ofwhich areindicated at 5|, controls the electric circuits for the, leftrear surface heating unit l6. Similarly, two, laterally spaced-apartvertical tiers of guide slots are respectively formed adjacent to theleft-hand side and adjacent to the righthand side, of the depression 32and respectively receive and guide the. individual pushbuttons of twoadditional corresponding pushbutton switches mounted. withinthehollow.b'acksplasher M, the individualpushbuttons of oneof theseswitches being indicated at, El and the individual pushbuttons of theother of these switches being in dicatedv at H. The left-hand switch,the push buttons of. which are indicated at 6!, controls the electriccircuits for. the right rear surface heatingunit I1; while theright-hand switch,the pushbuttons of which are indicated at H, controlsthe electric circuits for the right front surface heating unit 18.

Each of the four pushbutton switches-mentioned is preferably of thebasic construction disclosed in the Andrews patent noted, except that itis simplified by theomission of the individual illuminating arrangementtherefor and by .the provision of pushbuttons formed of a suitableopaque inexpensive plastic material. v.Accordingly, each of the switchesnoted comprises an off pushbutton and five individual controlpushbuttons respectively corresponding to the off position of theswitchand to the five individual heating control positions of theswitch. Specifically, each of the switches comprises, in addition to theoff position, a high heat controlposition, a medium-high heat controlposition, a

medium heat control position, a low heat control position and a warmheat control position, in which respective positions the electriccircuits for the associated surface heating unit are respectivelygoverned to produce the corresponding heating rates.v In each verticaltier of pushbuttons the off pushbutton is disposed at the bottom, thehigh pushbutton is disposedat the top, and the other four pushbuttonsare spaced therebetween toward the top in accordance with in creasingheating rates of the associated surface heating unit. This arrangementis very advantageous in that the physical position of a-pushbuttontoward the top in any vertical tier is, withinitself, an index of thecorresponding heating rate of the associated surface heating unit.

Thus, it will be understood that in the four verton switch -60, that isprovidedwith the individual pushbuttons 6|, is suitably mountedwithinthe hollow backsplasher I4 in abutting relation'with respect to the rearsurface of the front wall l9 and the individual pushbuttons 6| pro- Iject through the opening 23 in the front Wall I9 andthence through theguide slots formed in the depression 32 to the exterior so that they arereadily accessible to be manually operated from the front of thebacksplasher I4. The'details of the electric circuits of the surfaceunit that are selectively controlled by operation of the pushbuttonswitch 60 have been omitted in the interest of brevity as they arecompletely disclosed in Figs. 7 to 12, inclusive, of the Andrews patentmentioned.

The principal body portion of the trim plate 24 is disposed forwardlywith respect tothe front wall l9, and two vertical tiers of target holes8| and 9| are formed therein on opposite sides of the timing mechanism29 and respectively adjacent to the two vertical tiers of pushbuttonsand 6|. Each of the target holes 8| and 9| extending through the trimplate 24 is provided with an associated trim eyelet in order to presenta finished appearance. As best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, theindividualtarget holes 9| are provided with the trim eyelets 92. Theportions of the opening 23 respectively disposed below the verticaltiers of target holes 8| and 9| are covered by two colorv cards for thepurpose ofeffect- .ing illumination of the individual target holes 8|and the individual target holes 9| with different colors. ,The colorcard arrangement assoany suitable manner. The panes 93 and 94 bridge theopening 23 and are positioned between the front wall |9 and the trimplate 24 below the eyelets 92 surrounding the individual target holes9|. Preferably the pane 93 is formed of clear glass, or the like; whilethe pane 94 comprises six individual sections |0| to I06, inclusive,respectively disposed below the six individual target holes 9| andformed of differently colored glass, or the like. Specifically, thesection |0| disposed below the top target hole 9| in the vertical tieris red, the section I06 disposed below the bottom target hole 9| in thevertical tier is clear, and the sections I02, I93, I94 and I05 disposedbelow the intermediate target holes 9| in the vertical tier arerespectively yellow, purple, green and blue.

Further, a laterally extending fluorescent electric lamp ID is arrangedin the upper portion of the backsplasher l4 and mounted upon twolaterally spaced-apart fixtures The electric lamp H0. is provided with acircuit including a pushbutton switch I I2 carried on the lowerleft-hand side of the trim plate 24. The pushbutton switch 2 is of aconventional type including a single pushbutton US that is operatedalternately to open and to close the circuit of the electric lamp H0.When the electric lamp H0 is illuminated, light proceeds therefromthrough the pane 28 and thence through the window 25 in the front wallI9 and finally through the window 21 in the hood 26 in order toilluminate the trim plate 24, the front of the backsplasher I4 and thecooking top l2, the hood 25 serving as a lamp shade in order to effectproper distribution of the light. Also, when the lamp H) is illuminated,light proceeds therefrom through the opening 23 and thence through thetwo color card arrangements into the two vertical tiers of target holes8| and 9| producing illumination of the individual target :holes 8| andthe individual target holes 9| :with the respective colors.Specifically, the light proceeding through the pane 93 and thencethrough the six section |O| to N6, inclusive, of the pane 94,v effectillumination of the six individual target holes 9| with the respectivecolors red, yellow, purple, green, blue and clear from the top towardthe bottom of this vertical tier; The illumination with red of the toptarget hole 9| in the vertical tier adjacent to the top pushbutton 6| inthe vertical tier produces a color key to the circumstance that this toppushbutton is the high pushbutton and that operation of this toppushbutton will actuate the switch 99 to effect heating of the rightrear surface heating unit IT at the high heating rate. Likewise, theillumination of the other target holes 9| in this vertical tier with thedifferent colors mentioned key the respectively associated pushbuttons6| to the respective corresponding heating rates of the right rearsurface heating unit H. In view of the foregoing, 'itwill be understoodthat the target holes 8| key the pushbuttons 5| and 4| while the targetholes 9| key the pushbuttons 6| and II.

This arrangement is very advantageous as it permits proper correlationof the desired heating effect of a given surface heating unit withoperation of the appropriate control pushbutton in the associatedpushbutton switch by means of the color appearing in the target holeassociated with that particular control pushbutton. It will beunderstood that this arrangement permits the recipe for preparingaparticular dish to be given in terms of cooking times against cookingcolors,

thereby eliminating the confusion of the cook in attem ting to.correlate cooking timesagainst cooking temperatures; I i Alscn it ispreferable that the face of the trim plate 24 carry the two groups oflegends .I-Iigh, "Medium-high, Medium, Low," fWarm, Offv in verticalarray-adjacent to the respective vertical tiers of target holes '8] and91 on opposite sides of the timing mechanism 29 in order further tocorrelate the cooking colorsappearing in the target holes 81 and 9| withrespect to the corresponding heating rates of the various surfaceheating units.

Further, the lower right-hand side of the trim plate 24 carries aconvenience outlet IM that is provided with a normal plug receptacle anda timed plug receptacle that may be employed for the purpose of heatinga portable electrical appliance, such, for example, as a coffee pot. Thenormal plu eceptacle provides a steady source of electric power; and thetimed plug receptacle provides a timed source of electric power governedby the timing mechanism 29 in accordance with conventional practice. Apilot'lamp jewel H5 is provided adjacent to the pushbutton switch H2 inorder to indicate that the heating circuit of one of the surface heatingunits l5, l6, I! or I8 is -closed;.'and a pilotlamp jewel H6 is providedadjacent to the convenience outlet I'M in order to indicate that theheating circuit of the oven is closed. Within the backsplasher M to theright of the oven control pushbutton switch 30, there ismounted an oventemperature regulator 111' that isprovidedwith a rotatable temperaturesetting knob 5 l8; and within the backsplasher [4 to the left of theoven control pushbutton switch 1 iii], there is mounted a time alarmdevice, not shown, that is provided with a rotatable time setting knobH9.

In view of the foregoing, it will be understood that. when thepushbutton switch; I I2 :is .operated'to illuminate the electric lamp Hthe trim plate 25, the backsplasher l4 and-the cooking top [2 areautomatically illuminated; and, likewise, the vertical tiers of targetholes 8| and 9| areautomatically illuminated with the different'colors.as previously explained, in order totkey the corresponding heating ratesof the surface heating units l5, I6, I! andv 18 to the correspondingcontrol pushbuttons in the four vertical tiers ii, BI and H. Thus it isapparent that there has been provided an electric range incorporatingasimple and economical arrangement for illuminating the backsplasherthereof. 1 1

In the'copending application of Harold E.

' Ackemann, Serial No. 111,301, filed August 19,

1949, and assigned to the assignee of the :present application, there isdisclosed another form of an electric range incorporating a singleelectric lamp for illuminating the cooking top of the, range, thebacksplasher of the-range and the individual pushbuttons incorporated inthe several pushbutton switches carried by. the backsplasher.

While there has present considered to be the preferred embodiment of theinvention, itrwill be understood that various modifications may be madetherein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all suchmodifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In an electric range including a cooking top, a surface heatin unitcarried by-said cookbeen'described what is at extending trim platecarried by said front wall and covering said opening, said trim platehaving a plurality of vertically spaced-apart guide slots formedtherein, a pushbutton switch mounted in said backsplasher and providedwith an off pushbutton and a plurality of control pushbuttons arrangedin vertically spaced-apart relation and projecting forwardly throughsaid open- 'ing and thence through corresponding ones of saidguideslots, 'saidoff pushbutton being operative to actuate said switch todisconnect said surface heating unit and said source of current supply,said control pus'hbuttons being selectively operative to actuate saidswitch selectively to complete corresponding difierent heatin rateconnections between said surface heating unit and said source of currentsupply, said trim plate having a laterally extending Window formed inthe upper portion thereof above said guide slots and :carrying alaterally extending hood posibuttons.

tioned above said window, said hood projecting forwardly with respect tosaid window, said trim plate having a plurality of verticallyspacedapart target holes formed therein respectively adjacent to saidguide slots, a plurality of different light color transmitting panes.mounted in order to illuminate said trim plate and said cooking-top andfor projecting light through said opening and said panes .into saidtarget holes in order simultaneously to illuminate said target holeswith corresponding different colors tc' serve as a key to thecorresponding different heating rates of said surface heating unitresulting from operation of the corresponding adacent'ones of saidcontrol 'pushbuttons.

v 2. The electric range combination set forth inclaim 1, wherein thepushbuttons of said pushbutton switch are arranged in a vertical tierwith said off pushbutton disposed at the bottom of the tier and withsaid control pushbuttons disposed thereabove in accordance with thecorresponding increasing heating rates of said suriace heating unitresulting from operation of the corresponding ones of said control push-RAY C. SANDIN. THOMAS M. S'I'EINBACH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the UNITEDSTATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,931,012 Sampson'et-al Oct. 17, 19332,431,904 Andrews Dec. 2, 1947 .'2,-43'7.,5'55 Rees Mar. 9,19482,450,399 Sheidler Sept. 28, 1948 2,453,832 Dadson Nov. 16, 1948 2,492,00 Kitson Dec. 20, 1949 2,494,892 Mayer Jan. 17, 1950

